More Mini MacBook Air Rumors

[Paul Daniel Ash]

Echoing reports from the Chinese electronics industry covered here last month, a financial analyst is saying that Apple's ramping up to manufacture a MacBook Air with an 11.6" screen, to be released in September. BMO Capital analyst Keith Bachman claims in a note to his clients that the new mini-MBA will be cheaper and made in much larger quantities than the current model, which is the opposite of what DigiTimes reported in July. Bachman is also expecting new iPod touch and nano models next month.

The MacBook Air is the one Apple product that hasn't been refreshed recently, with no changes to the slim notebook in over a year. This has led to a steadily increasing number of reports about new models in the pipeline. Bachman asserts, straight out that Apple "will" launch two different 11.6-inch MacBook Air models in September, though he says he is "not yet clear on all the specs." He is predicting a drop in the price, which is currently much higher than comparable MacBook models. The production volume of the new shrunken MBA, according to "supply chain checks" that Bachman says his firm did in China, "could far exceed the current Air, which we believe could suggest lower starting prices.” Though he didn't break it down by product, he says he's expecting Apple to ship just under 3 million notebooks next quarter.

Additionally, Bachman predicts a new, "much smaller" iPod nano that won't have a clickwheel, and may squeeze the iPod shuffle out of the bottom of the product line, and well as the camera-equipped 4th-gen iPod touch that we keep hearing about. As much as this is potentially just hot air, it's important to remember that the people who report to Wall Street are held to a higher standard than tech bloggers: this guy could lose his job if this turns out to be bogus.

Source: AppleInsider

[whereswaldo]

What's the appeal of a Macbook Air? It's worse than the Macbook Pro and costs more!

[feidhlim1986]

Why? for 1.4 inches more you have a macbook or macbook pro! Why make super slim super portable devices that are also super expensive? If these rumors are true, they just reiterate the fact that lately Apple just seem to have more money than sense.

[Cowboy]

I would personally really like one for what I do and I like how portable they are

[Shockster]

It fits in a manila folder...

[Darrius777]

Well If they priced it below $1,000 it might start to compete with the high end ipads. I doubt apple would want that.

[elite_jounin]

What's the appeal of a Macbook Air? It's worse than the Macbook Pro and costs more!

I couldn't agree more!

[piston597]

MBA is a piece of crap. It doesn't even have a cd drive, what is the point of this? $1000 to get a 1.5 inch thick computer. I swear anyone can probably break this in half easily. This thing is all show and no real use for anything. Just get a MBP or a real laptop if you need one.

[mikerlx]

Thought steve jobs hated netbooks?

[Nyra98]

I think that the idea of a computer that is 1.5 inches thick is pretty cool, but its not really useful for much.

[skblut]

MacBook airs are nice because they are light and the ones with the ssd are fast but they are way overpriced and underpowered.

[tudtran]

I love my macbook air perfect side. I'm not sure about smaller. All that said, my next computer will likely to be a Macbook Pro. It's faster, more memory, and cost a lot less.

[chrispy212]

I'm suprised Apple want to continue along the Air route. Sure we were all suitably impressed when they squeezed the hardware that they did into such a small enclosure. Say what you will, in engineering terms, it is remarkable. But to put such a high price tag on what is effectively a notebook, and declare it a revolution, seems, whilst very in character for Apple, a little overzealous. And the above posters are right; if the iPad sits somewhere between a high-end smartphone and mid-range laptop, that does not leave much space for an under-specified, over-priced novelty item. A game-changing addition or two to the Air is going to be neccesary to differentiate it from the rest of the product line, and secure a niche for it.

[mknapper1]

I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying 1.5 inches thick because the MacBook pros are only 1 inch thick and the air is about .75

But anyways this would be a great laptop for those who have an iMac at home and want something super portable, my only gripe with the current one is the lack of the multi-touch trackpad and why it still has that ugly silver bezel. It's the only aluminum product besides the iPod classic that has the ugly bezel

[awesomeSlayer]

For me as a gamer, I don't want the Air. Its price is more than the Pros and it is underpowered.

However, it doesn't really mean it is worthless. It depends on what you do on computers.

[madczech]

For me as a gamer, I don't want the Air. Its price is more than the Pros and it is underpowered.

However, it doesn't really mean it is worthless. It depends on what you do on computers.

finally a neutral post.. thanks for that

[whereswaldo]

finally a neutral post.. thanks for that

Like switzerland

[HeartGoldZephyr95]

Like switzerland

I don't get it haha!

[skj8100]

I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying 1.5 inches thick because the MacBook pros are only 1 inch thick and the air is about .75

But anyways this would be a great laptop for those who have an iMac at home and want something super portable, my only gripe with the current one is the lack of the multi-touch trackpad and why it still has that ugly silver bezel. It's the only aluminum product besides the iPod classic that has the ugly bezel

And you have no gripe about it being seriously underpowered and ridiculously overpriced?

[evolasme]

Id much rather them port OSX into an Ipad, seem Apple it going in the direction of Fragile is better